Drive or Fly: Johns Creek, GA to Arcade, GA?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for PDK–PDK. At 45 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 1m

Distance

45.8 mi

Total Cost

$45

CO2

19 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$10

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 29m

4m in the air

Air Distance

37 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

9 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Johns Creek, GA → PDK 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 4m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PDK → Arcade, GA 67m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Johns Creek, GA PDK — DeKalb Peachtree Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

Arcade, GA PDK — DeKalb Peachtree Airport 45 mi, ~67m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PDK and PDK. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

2h 32m

52m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Crescent

Door-to-Door Timeline

Johns Creek, GA → Atlanta 29m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 52m

Arrival 10m

Gainesville Amtrak Station → Arcade, GA 31m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Atlanta 19 mi, ~29m drive

To Gainesville Amtrak Station 21 mi, ~31m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~11/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 11 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	1h 1m	3h 29m	2h 32m
Total cost (1 person)	$45	$121	$9
Carbon footprint	19 kg CO₂	9 kg CO₂	3 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

45.8 mi 1h 1m

via I 85, US 129; GA 11

Alternative (+10 min)

48 mi 1h 11m

via GA 316; US 29; GA 8, GA 82, GA 120

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Johns Creek, GA to Arcade, GA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.